Hi, just got my Freetronics experimenter's kit from Jaycar in Sydney (even though the guy in the store tried his best to discourage me from buying one).

It seems like Jaycar really doesn't like the products. The Arduino stuff they have (all Freetronics) is behind the counter and not visible. You can't tell what they have in stock and they're not really willing to tell you "Mate, just look on the web site". But then they have a HUGE wall of circuit kits like they've been selling for decades with 10 kinds of amplifier, battery tester and don't forget the cricket chirping kit! Many of which are more expensive than an Arduino.

Arduino (and the other microcontroller and tiny systems) are so cool - they are on fire these days, they seem really popular and with all the Make stuff all over youtube it seems like Jaycar are really missing the boat. They are one of the last electronics retail shops and they're not interested in the coolest stuff?

The Jaycar shop in Ipswich are all for freetronics and couldn't stop trying to sell me every module and shield they had when I bought my kit a week ago, it must just be the attitude of the one store not just a blanket Jaycar problem.

monkymoo19 wrote:The Jaycar shop in Ipswich are all for freetronics and couldn't stop trying to sell me every module and shield they had when I bought my kit a week ago, it must just be the attitude of the one store not just a blanket Jaycar problem.

Your observation is interesting - my 'local' Jaycar in Tweed Heads (NSW) has theirs on display IN the shop, readily peruseable, as you'd expect. However, I just went to Jaycar in Geelong (Vic) and experienced exactly as Christo portayed below! After wandering the shop for a while (near the below mentioned kits!), I approched the salesperson behind the counter to discover all the Freetronics-Arduino stuff were too far behind the counter for me to be able to read the labels. The salesman's solution was to offer me the catalogue. Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn't really SELL the product. I went in willing to buy $more than just the headers I went in for - I walked out with only the $3.50 headers...

[quote="christo"]It seems like Jaycar really doesn't like the products. The Arduino stuff they have (all Freetronics) is behind the counter and not visible. You can't tell what they have in stock and they're not really willing to tell you "Mate, just look on the web site". But then they have a HUGE wall of circuit kits like they've been selling for decades with 10 kinds of amplifier, battery tester and don't forget the cricket chirping kit! Many of which are more expensive than an Arduino.

I still don't have any issue with Jaycar Melbourne CBD store, was there recently, and as far as I was concerned all Freetronic items were clearly displayed & accessible, and staff are very friendly and helpful.

hnoor0066 wrote:they seem really popular and with all the Make stuff all over youtube it seems like Jaycar are really missing the boat. They are one of the last electronics retail shops and they're not interested in the coolest stuff??